Campbell confirmed as UK ambassador

Premier Gordon Campbell and Prime Minister Stephen Harper celebrate the arrival of the 2010 Olympics at the B.C. legislature last February.

VICTORIA – The federal government has confirmed the appointment of former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell as Canada’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

A list of appointments by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada includes Campbell’s new job as part of a major update of foreign diplomatic posts. Also named are new ambassadors and consuls-general for the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Afghanistan, Brazil, Qatar, Cameroon, Burkina Faso and Serbia.

Canada’s top diplomatic job is ambassador to Washington D.C., and in 2009 Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed former Manitoba premier Gary Doer to that post.

Campbell’s appointment was leaked to Ottawa reporters in late June, but the federal government waited until it received formal acceptance from the UK government before confirming it.

Meeting with federal officials in June, Premier Christy Clark said Campbell would be a good choice to help Harper’s government negotiate a free trade agreement with the European Union. Campbell will also be in London for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Clark issued a statement Monday congratulating Campbell and his wife Nancy for the appointment, and thanking him for 26 years in city and provincial politics.

Campbell announced his resignation as premier in November 2010, amid controversy over the introduction of the harmonized sales tax in B.C.